We all know by now that we need to find ways to be more eco-friendly at home and tumble dryers often get a bad rap for being wasteful and costly.
The trouble is, we live on a tiny island where a day with a temperature above 20 degrees makes national news and we live through more winter weather than summer. For us Brits, it’s necessary to have a tumble dryer, unless we want to spend all our winters fighting for space with a load of damp clothes hanging from a drying rack. The good news is, there are a lot of energy efficient options out there nowadays, so you don’t have to feel too guilty about whacking on a cycle when necessary.
We’ve rounded up some of the best tumble dryers to buy in 2019 and given some tips on what to look out for.
Capacity
It’s important to take note of capacity - if you’ve got a lot of people’s clothes to dry, you’ll probably want a larger drum, such as 9KG. If, however, you live alone, a much smaller one (say, 6KG) will probably suffice.
Energy Rating
Those A pluses and Bs may bring back memories of essay marks at school but they actually signify how efficient the machine is. Much like exam results, the higher the rating (such as an A++) the more energy efficient they are. Of course, something to remember is that this usually corresponds with price, too. B rating is pretty respectable, so don’t worry too much if an A+++ is out of your price range.
What is the difference between a vented, heat pump and condenser dryer?
Condenser Tumble Dryer
Condenser dryers condense the moisture evaporating off the wet clothes and turns it into water droplets, which are then siphoned off into a tank that can be emptied. They usually need to be emptied after every cycle, so if you’re the forgetful type, this might not be for you. They’re generally easier to install, as they only need a nearby plug socket to get them working and can be place them anywhere in the home.
Vented Tumble Dryers
Vented dryers, on the other hand, are cheaper but harder to install. The moist air, instead of going into a tank, goes through a small hole in the wall straight to the outside. This, of course, means you’ll need a professional to install it and it will need to be placed against an outside wall with a power outlet within reach.
Heat Pump Tumble Dryers
A heat pump dyer works by re-circulating the hot air in the dryer. Unlike a vented dryer you can put them anywhere in your home just like a condenser tumble dryer. They work similarly to a condenser dryer, in that they export moisture to a tank that needs to be emptied but, before this happens, they also reuse the hot air of the moisture to dry the clothes.
They are more expensive upfront and take slightly longer to dry clothes but will save you money on energy costs over time.
Sensor Feature
As the name would suggest this feature can sense how much moisture is left in the garments and tailor the programme accordingly (for example, it will stop a little earlier if you want ‘iron dry’ clothes and keep going if you want ‘cupboard dry’ ones). This actually helps to keep energy costs down significantly and also prevents damage to your clothes, thus allowing you to keep them for longer.
Samsung Tumble Dryer
Model: Samsung DV90M50003X
Capacity: 9KG
Energy Rating: A++
Type: Heat Pump/ Sensor
With a 9 kilogram drum, this dryer can take in mammoth loads, so if you have a lot of people’s washing to tend to, or want something that can handle bigger items such as duvets, this is your best bed.
Smaller loads can be done in less than a minute (yes, really) and there’s even a hanging rack you can insert for drying delicates or cumbersome items that you don’t want clanging around in the drum. Intelligent sensors mean it won’t waste energy and the 14 available programs ensure that your clothes will last a lot longer.
It’s available in white or granite (although you can only buy the granite version at Currys) and offers a lot of bang for such a reasonable price.
£699 | Currys | Buy it now
AEG Tumble Dryer
Model: AEG 7000 Series T7DEE835R
Capacity: 8KG
Energy Rating: A+
Type: Heat pump/ sensor
The AEG 7000 claims to take moisture from clothes at half the heat of other machines, meaning you won’t end up with bone dry clothes because you left the cycle on for too long. There are ten main drying programs on this model that should cover everything you need, such as cottons, bedlinen and even duvets and activewear.
The ergonomics of this one are great, too - it’s sleek and quiet, meaning if you don’t have a utility and need it plugged in in the kitchen, it won’t be overly noisy or an irritating eye-sore. Though not as energy efficient as the Samsungs, it’s a great choice if you’re after a something that can seamlessly fit into your kitchen.
£549 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Samsung Tumble Dryer
Model: DV90M8204AW
Capacity: 9KG
Energy Rating: A+++
Type: Heat Pump/ Sensor
If you can say such a thing about a tumble dryer, the Samsung DV90M8204AW certainly looks good and thankfully has thoughtful ergonomics to match.
The door is refreshingly wide, meaning you’ll actually be able to put in bulkier items with ease - particularly useful as it can take up to 9KG. As you can see from its energy rating, this machine is particularly efficient but isn’t overpriced, meaning you might actually save some money on those energy bills.
Its smart sensor will ensure clothes are dried exactly the right amount and its various cycles - including an outdoor care one, a wool option and a 35 minute cycle - will cater to most needs. You can link it up to an app that will help detect any problems that need fixing and allow you a small amount of remote control.
£849 | AO | Buy it now
See all tumble dryers from AO here.
Beko Tumble Dryer
Model: DCR93161
Capacity: 9KG
Energy Rating: B
Type: Condenser/ Sensor
If you’re on a tight budget, this Beko is a great option particularly if you’ve got a large family. Considering it has a range of specs you’d usually find in a much more expensive machine, it offers great value for money.
There’s sensor control and a reverse action drum for optimal drying, an anti-crease function and interior LED light so you can see what’s going on. This one drains directly outside so, on the one hand, needs to be against an outside wall, but on the other, negates the need for faffing around with a tank.
Though it’s not the most energy efficient model on the list, it’s got a great price, which should offset the use expenditure.
£289 | AO | Buy it now
Price compare at Currys.
Zanussi Lindo Tumble Dryer
Model: 1000 ZDH8333PZ
Capacity: 8KG
Energy Rating: A+
Type: Heat pump/ Sensor
Another affordable option is the Zanussi, which comes with 8 programs and an A+ energy rating. Though it certainly won’t win any prizes for style, it’s a robust machine and actually offers a decent energy rating for its price.
It can fit a month’s worth of shirts easily and is actually pretty quiet once it gets going. Some of it's less appealing specs are the windowless door - so you’ll actually have to stop the cycle if you want to check how dry they are - and the display isn’t the easiest to decipher but at just under £400 it's a good value machine with a top notch energy rating.
Two of its most thoughtful functions are the easy iron and duvet options — you’ll just need to spend some time with the manual to work out how to switch them on.
£399 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Miele Tumble Dryer
Model: TWF505WP
Capacity: 8KG
Energy Rating: A+++
Type: Heat pump/ Sensor
Miele has earned a good reputation thanks to its innovative engineering and reliable products and the TWF505WP is no exception. Offering 12 programmes, including outerwear, denim and linen, it uses its patented honeycomb drum design to ensure that clothes are treated as gently as possible - if you have no idea what this is, it’s basically a drum that doesn’t have holes in it and that gently encourages the clothes to move around, therefore decreasing the likelihood of snagging and shape alteration.
It comes with sensor technology and is particularly quiet - only measuring at 62dB - meaning you can put it on before bed and still get a good night’s sleep.
Perhaps its fanciest feature of all is the FragranceDos - a set of five sets that can be added to the drum to ensure clothes come out smelling wonderfully fresh. All sound too good to be true? It shouldn’t - this one has been tested to last for an average of 20 years.
You just need to part with almost a thousand pounds to have it.
£999 | John Lewis | Buy it now
See all tumble dryers from John Lewis here.
Hotpoint Active Care Tumble Dryer
Model: NTM1192XBYUK
Capacity: 8KG
Energy Rating: A++
Type: Heat pump
A sleek and simple looking model, this Hotpoint offers an excellent range of features at a reasonable price. From different garments - such as sportswear, jeans and synthetics - to differently levels of dryness, there are lots of options for you to choose from and each one is easy to program thanks to the simple to use controls and display.
It also comes with an Active Care feature, which will change the speed and heat of the drum accordingly, thus reducing wear and tear to fabrics by up to 40 per cent - ideal if, in the past, you’ve been reluctant to throw certain items in the dryer or are looking for ways to preserve the clothes you already have for longer.
£399 | Very | Buy it now *On sale now
Verdict:
The best all-rounder is the SAMSUNG DV90M50003X as it offers a respectable energy rating and range of features at a reasonable price. If you’re willing to push the boat out, though, the Miele TWF505WP, which has a top energy rating and a range of intuitive features you never knew you needed.
